HHS, KSES tap new academic specialists

The Cheatham County School District has hired two new academic specialists in South Cheatham at Harpeth High School (HHS) and Kingston Springs Elementary School (KSES).

Allison Mueller will serve as the new academic specialist at HHS.

Mueller is beginning her 10th year with the district. She spent the past nine years at Harpeth Middle School, teaching seventh and eighth grade science, math, and social studies and serving as the RTI interventionist for the past two years.

“I am excited and grateful to work with many of my former students and their teachers to help our students continue their paths as positive members of society,” Mueller said. “I look forward to continuing to build on HHS’s success by working with the teachers and staff to improve learning by supporting needs, encouraging growth, and sharing ideas.”

Mueller has served as a mentor teacher and has been recognized in multiple years as a Level 5 teacher in science. Additionally, she has served as the HMS science department leader and been a part of the school’s leadership team. In 2020, she was named the school’s Teacher of the Year.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Middle Tennessee State University and plans to begin work on her master’s degree in school counseling this year.

Nivah Eckert has been tapped to serve as the new academic specialist at KSES.

Eckert comes to KSES from Belmont University, where she served as the clinical supervisor for the College of Education. In this role, she mentored and observed education students on best practices.

Before Belmont, she worked at Nashville Christian School as a lower school educator and instructional coach for five years and at Metro Nashville Public Schools as an elementary teacher for five years.

"I am excited to join Kingston Springs Elementary School as the new academic specialist,” Eckert said. “I look forward to partnering with all of the teachers at KSES and am confident that this collaboration will help students grow. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful school community. Go Cardinals!”